Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted has revealed his private struggle with throat cancer. He detailed the severe clinical depression that nearly broke him and explained how his determination to perform with The Chophouse Band became his lifeline to recovery.
In a candid interview, Newsted shared the emotional toll of his diagnosis and treatment. “About a year ago, they found some throat cancer, and so I had some pretty serious procedure,” he explained. “I’m, yeah, 300 and whatever days out, nearing 400 days out. And I’ve got some healing to do. They told me to wait till about August or so to start trying to do anything, but I really want to bet on myself and have some incentive and all that kind of thing.”
The depression that followed his diagnosis was overwhelming. “I had to claw back. I had to claw my way back. The depression, the level of depression was so severe that you just… A couple of times, I’d never been the kind of person that would say that or even had that kind of thinking, but [I felt], like, ‘Dude, f*ck this.’ I done did what I did, been blessed very much,” Newsted recalled. For several weeks, he found himself in a dark place. He admitted that he had thoughts he’d never experienced before. “Great friends, a way to be still, just fucking let… Like, ‘Okay, man, just take me now, motherf*cker,’ that type of thing, for a couple weeks. And I started getting back out of it.”
The turning point came when Newsted reconnected with the activities that defined him. “I started swimming again, got back on my bike, doing my things, doing my things, getting some sun, playing some music, meeting some people, keeping my head out, writing some more songs, doing all the things. The planets started aligning,” he said. This gradual return to normalcy sparked a realization about his purpose. “I thought, ‘I need to go out and play these songs for people.’ You felt so close to dead. How you go the exact opposite of that, all the fucking way over here like this, is to go out and play for people. Express. Let them hear your stories, your new songs. Tell your stories with your songs.”
Newsted’s diagnosis came in May 2024. He underwent surgical treatment on May 8, 2025, when doctors removed tissue from his tonsil area and lymph nodes using advanced laser surgery techniques. The cancer was caught early, a crucial factor that led to successful removal of the disease. By May 2026, approximately one year after his procedure, Newsted received confirmation that he was cancer-free. This marked a significant milestone in his recovery journey.
The physical aftermath of his treatment has required adjustment. The surgical procedure altered the structure of his throat, resulting in a slightly altered voice. He has regained his touring weight and his taste buds are returning. More significantly, the experience forced lifestyle changes that Newsted credits with improving his overall well-being. He stopped drinking and smoking, including alcohol and marijuana, and increased his rest. This led him to feel “more clear-headed than I’ve been in my entire adult life.”
Now back on tour as of summer 2026, Newsted is performing with The Chophouse Band on an 18-date North American run. He is also supporting Blackberry Smoke later in the year. At 63 years old, he approaches his music with renewed perspective. “I do what I can with what I got and what’s left, okay? So now stepping into new worlds, even though I’ve been where I’ve been, a bunch of new things for me, like starting over,” he reflected. His return to performing represents not just a professional comeback, but a personal triumph over adversity that brought him to the brink of despair.
Newsted kept his diagnosis private initially. He only shared the news publicly after receiving confirmation that he was cancer-free. His openness about the mental health struggles accompanying his physical recovery underscores the often-overlooked emotional dimensions of cancer treatment. The former Metallica bassist, who played with the legendary band from 1986 to 2001, has transformed his experience into a powerful testament to resilience. The healing power of music and the importance of community support during life’s darkest moments shine through his story.
